Rogozin: Arctic development requires new materials and experts

Climate change is dictating the need for different calculations, materials and specially trained engineers for construction projects in the Arctic, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin told a visiting session of the State Commission for Arctic Development.

According to Rogozin, the melting of the continental permafrost leads to buildings becoming deformed and destroyed: on average, one apartment building is deemed unlivable in Norilsk every year. The deputy prime minister said industries have to coordinate their work to address this problem.

"We need research-based methods for monitoring permafrost changes and the soil's bearing capacity, new rules for calculating and designing buildings in permafrost conditions, rules of building use and recommendations on improving the foundations' bearing capacity," he said.

"Today we should be using new construction materials with high exploitation qualities," Rogozin said, noting also the importance of special training for engineers.